mete out

phrasal verb

meted out; meting out; metes out
: to give (something) to the people who one decides should get it : to give out or distribute (something)
We're trying to be fair in meting out rewards and punishments.
usually used to refer to something unpleasant (such as punishment)
Huge fines were meted out as punishment.
The king meted out justice as he saw fit.

Examples of mete out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
France’s most unforgiving dispenser of fictional vengeance upon male oppressors has maintained her cultural edge by meting out grace instead. Marc Weingarten, The Atlantic, 23 Sep. 2024 Her ninth child, Max, said his mother meted out discipline in her own way, through healthy competition. Valerie J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2024 Unlike in football, where nonconference scheduling is done years in advance—often with athletic directors taking the lead—basketball date-making is still largely meted out at the level of the head coach. Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 23 Sep. 2024 The action drama regularly metes out dangerous rescues of the lifeguarding variety, plunging deep into the Pacific or zipping around on a succession of jet skis. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mete out 

Dictionary Entries Near mete out

Cite this Entry

“Mete out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mete%20out. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on mete out

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!